The ''Comet'' was a diesel-electric
streamliner built in 1935 for the
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , commonly known as The Consolidated, or simply as the New Haven, was a railroad that operated in the New England region of the United States from 1872 to December 31, 1968. Founded by the merger of ...
by the
Goodyear-Zeppelin Company.
Smaller than the other streamliners, it was a three-car, double-ended train that could operate in both directions and thus did not need to be turned at destinations—ideal for the New Haven's cramped terminus at South Station in Boston.
It was initially placed into service between
Boston, Massachusetts and
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...
on a 44-minute schedule; later, intermediate stops were added at
Back Bay in Boston and
Pawtucket/Central Falls, Rhode Island, on an advertised "44 miles in 44 minutes" schedule. It ran 5 daily round trips on weekdays, and was often used for weekend excursion trips. This service lasted until the beginning of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, when increased traffic volume overwhelmed the capacity of the ''Comet'', after which it was placed on local commuter services around the Boston area. The trainset was withdrawn from service in 1951 and scrapped.
The interior was furnished with 48 seat in each power car, and 64 in the center car divided into two sections: a smoking section seating 28 and a non-smoking seating 36. Seating was of the 'walk-over' type, and all seats were coach-class; there being no provision for first- or parlor-class seating.
[Railway Age. April 27, 1935. p. 634]
The exterior was machined aluminum in a whorled pattern with color bands of bright blue enamel at window height, dark blue enamel at wheel level, and a gray enamel roof. The whole exterior was covered with a coat of clear varnish to prevent tarnishing. The front ends were sharply raked, with a pointed "chin"
pilot
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...
.
References
*
*
"Latest Diesel-Engine Train Built Like Airships" ''Popular Mechanics'', July 1935*
*
External links
{{NH named trains
Passenger trains of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
North American streamliner trains
Articulated passenger trains
Named passenger trains of the United States
Railway services introduced in 1935
Diesel multiple units of the United States